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Merrifield’s Very Own Newspaper www.merrifieldschool.co.za 13 June 2019

Merrifield had a very special visit by the Soweto String Quartet last week - first a workshop with our string

players, followed by a performance for the Prep school. What an honour to have hosted these talented

musicians at Merrifield! They have invited our students to play with them at their next East London

performance. For video footage of the performances, visit the Merrifield Facebook College page.

Message from the Executive Head, Dr Guy Hartley

Exams and assessments are officially over and holidays beckon. Our students have been applying

themselves well in what is a suitably rigorous learning environment and they are achieving their

educational goals at pleasing levels.

This term has seen the inaugural usage of the new sports precinct, which has already brought much

vibrant life and exciting activity to our campus. We have hosted numerous fixtures and derby days,

utilising our striking new Astroturf to the fullest extent, as well as our new soccer field for festival

matches. The long-awaited sports precinct development has certainly introduced a new dimension and

energetic life force to our school, which is sure to serve our students well into the future. The official

opening will take place next term on our Founders’ Day on Friday, 30 August, and will include our entire

community – students, parents, staff and alumni – in a range of hockey, soccer and netball matches.

Please be invited to participate (see page 6 for further information).

As the term draws to a close, let me wish you all well for a deserved winter’s break. May you travel

safely and enjoy family time together!

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Handiwork and sewing in the prep classrooms; with

gifts made this term as part of the extramural.

Merrifield prep students had fun on the field as part of the Merrifamilies initiative

where students from Grade 1 to Grade 7 are given the opportunity to bond and

interact. What a lovely idea to have been implemented so successfully within the

student community this year.

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Grade 4 Entrepreneur’s Day at school on 11 June.

Grade 3s visited Lyndale Farm this week to learn more about our feathered friends.

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Merrifield Grade 5s visited the art on display at the ELFEST art expo that took place at the Belgravia Art Centre

until 7 June. Congratulations to the following Merrifield Prep School students who between them achieved 22

golds and 5 double golds. Special mention to the following students who achieved Double Gold: Mila Wallbrecht

(Grade 1); Dimpho Kabeli (Grade 2); Reece Snyman (Grade 3); Mila Ferrucci (Grade 5); Ben Wallbrecht (Grade 6).

CANOE

Congratulations and best wishes to Grade 10 student Jade Wilson

who leaves this week to compete in the upcoming SA Canoe

Marathon Champs in Gauteng. Jade has really excelled in the sport

this year, and has been selected as part of the Springbok squad

that will represent South Africa in the October International against

Australia, New Zealand, America and France. She has also been

selected to the squad going to the Olympic Hope games in Slovakia

based on her SA Sprint results where she came third for both the

500 and 1000m. All the best to Jade as she competes at this high

level, and safe travels.

DANCE

Merrifield Grade 4 student Paige Collins recently represented South

Africa at Dance Star World Finals in Croatia. She placed in the top 10

for 4 of her styles: 1st place Tap B League; 4th place Musical Theatre

A League; 7th place Jazz A League; and 8th place Contemporary A

League.

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SURFING

1-2 June: Merrifield matric student Thomas Lindhorst surfed in the Van’s Surf Pro Classic at Lambert’s Bay and

got an equal seventh, so he is now currently 4th on the Africa U18 rankings.

SOCCER

Merrifield Pre-Primary fielded a team in a

festival of soccer at Selborne in May, and won their match.

BADMINTON

Merrifield Grade 9 student Amy Swart has been selected for the

U19 Border badminton team. The team will represent Border at

the South African open and interprovincial championships which

takes place in Cape Town from 29 June-6th July 2019. All the

best!

HOCKEY

4 June: U10 boys hockey festival at Buffalo Flats. Merrifield vs Stirling B 3-6 loss; vs Buffalo Flats A 1-0 win; vs

Stirling A 1-2 loss.

5 June: U10 girls hockey fest at Merrifield. A team:

Merrifield vs Gonubie A 5-1 win; vs Gonubie B 6-0 win.

B team: Merrifield vs Gonubie B 3-0 win; vs Gonubie A

2-1 win.

7 June: Prep hockey derby vs Cambridge at Merrifield.

Results: U9A girls lost 1-5; U9A boys drew 1-1; U9B

boys lost 0-1; U10A boys 1-1 draw; U10B boys 0-5

loss; U10A girls drew 2-2; U10B girls lost 0-4; U11 boys

lost 0-4; U11 girls drew 2-2; U13 girls lost 0-3; U13

boys drew 0-0.

8 June: U9 Boys Festival at Merrifield. Results: A Team: Merrifield vs Hudson A 1-1 draw; vs Stirling A 0-0 draw;

vs Dale A 1-1 draw; vs Selborne A 1-1 draw; vs Hudson B 4-0 win; vs Stirling B 5-0 win. B Team: Merrifield vs

Hudson B 1-2 loss; vs Stirling B 1-0 win; vs Dale B 1-1 draw; vs Selborne B 0-0 draw; vs Hudson A 1-3 loss; vs Stir-

ling A 0-4 loss.

8 June: U10 Boys Festival at Merrifield. Results: Merrifield vs Stutt B 4-0 win; vs Stutt A 0-2 loss; vs Dale A 2-4

loss; vs Dale B 4-0 win; vs Hudson A 0-3 loss; vs Hudson B 4-0 win.

MUSIC

Further Trinity Music exam results from the Merrifield Cultural department: Alyssa Miles 85% for Grade 4 piano

exam; Liam Hart 75% for Grade 5 flute exam.

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ALUMNI NEWS Merrifield Class of 2018 alumnus Samuel Townes left for America this week

to study Mechanical Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology. He is

on a part Academic and part Tennis Scholarship. We wish him well on this

new chapter!

Some interesting info, supplied by Samuel’s mother Shan Townes:

Samuel started playing tennis at a relatively late stage of 9 years compared

to other players who start when they 4 or 5 years old. Although Samuel

played all the other school sports, tennis soon became his favourite sport.

Having started later than most of the other players, he had to play catch up

which took a few years, but he more than caught up!

Sam left for the States this week to go and train at the High Performance

Tennis Academy where he has been fortunate enough to be invited to train

at for the last three years. He then goes to New Jersey Institute of Technolo-

gy on a Tennis and Academic scholarship where he will be studying Mechani-

cal Engineering and playing in the NJIT first tennis team for 4 years.

Sam spent his high school years at Merrifield College where he was given the

space to travel to the States to train and also time to play tournaments in SA

during school terms. The solid education he received at Merrifield most

certainly helped him get the Academic Scholarship and Sam’s hard work and commitment to his tennis is the

reason he was given the Tennis Scholarship. As his coach, Grant Grotjohn said to Sam: “All your dedication, hard

work, discipline and great tennis ethics have paid off.”

*** Attention Merrifield past students, from Class of 2018 onwards, please send news of what you are doing

and what you have achieved—personally and professionally—since you left school. We will be compiling a

newsletter soon and would love to include your recent highlights.

Email info@mpsc.co.za or whatsapp Taralyn on 0827225688.

Samuel Townes with his tennis

coach, Grant Grotjohn

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Happy birthday to the following Merrifield staff and students,

from 25 May to 14 June.

Students: Murray Briceland, Matthew Mangold, Hannah Petzer,

Anton Hasselberg, Aviwe Tsama, Cameron Coetzee, Esethu Fani,

Lukhanyo Sihlahla, Marie Dorfler, Thomas Rautenbach, Reece

Snyman, Kendra Theunissen, Ben Wallbrecht, Cameron Hanger,

Sivuyise Sihlahla, Jane Baezner, Thahla Makasi, Inathi Mkon-

dweni, Ethan Sergel, Talitha Stapelberg, Redempta Rugeiyamu,

Siyolise Sishuba, Lumikuthi Tomeli, Ethan Evans, Joseph Townes,

Saisha Naidoo, Zoe-Jade Flanegan, Michann Eva, Ezra Govender

and Paul Hasselberg.

Staff: Constance Tshemese, Natasha Williams-Jones, Di Bosse,

Nohlanhla Nyoni, Vuyisile Solani, Jonathan King and Eric Vuyo.

EMPLOYMENT OFFERED

Former Merrifield College Maths teacher Sue Jackelman is leaving East London for Cape Town at the end of

August and would like to advertise the position of the lady who has worked for them over the past 14 years.

“She is honest, reliable very good with children and is easy to work with. She house-sits for us when we are

away. We really want to help her out finding another job.” Sue can be contacted on suejackelman@mweb.co.za.

Happy holidays! The Grade 2s

enjoyed a picnic to celebrate the

end of a lovely second term.